Junior Program Manager

IHEID
Geneva - Switzerland
S: TBD

PERIOD OF CONTRACT: As soon as possible, until 31 December 2022
ACTIVITY RATE: 100 %
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 31-01-2018

General description of the position

The Bilateral Assistance and Capacity Building Program for Central Banks (BCC) is a partnership program between the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva and the Swiss Economics Secretariat (SECO). The program is aimed at supporting the strengthening of policy capacity at partner central banks in emerging economies. The capacity building operates both at the level of individual staff members and at the level of the institutions. It is achieved through technical assistance missions in the countries, supervision of research projects by central banks' staff members, and an annual research and policy conference. The program has been operating since 2012 and is entering its next phase until 2022.

Mission and activities

The Program Manager is responsible for the design and implementation of technical assistance missions in 4 partner countries, and the monitoring of results and progress. In each country, missions cover 2-3 areas of activity. For each area, the Program Manager will work in coordination with a Lead Expert who brings the scientific expertise for the area in question. The Program Manager reports to the Director of the BCC, and a Management Expert who supports the Director with a focus on capacity development.



The candidate will be in charge of all of the following forms of activities:



Design and organisation of technical assistance missions (in-country courses, workshops, on-the-job training). The missions are undertaken by experts drawn from a broad pool. In each area of activity, the BCC will identify a specific objective to be achieved by the end of 2022. A Lead Expert supports the Program Manager by bringing specific scientific expertise in the area, with a medium term view of progress towards the objective to be reached in 2022 as the Lead Expert will be involved for the entire duration. The Lead Expert will conduct some of the technical missions, and assists the Program Manager in selecting other experts for the remaining missions. The planning of missions includes the identification of specific objectives (in coordination with the relevant department of the central bank), oversight of pre-mission preparatory steps (ensuring availability of relevant data and tools), selection of experts, drafting of the Terms of Reference, logistical arrangement (in coordination with BCC logistic manager), assessment of expert's post mission report.

Monitoring of progress and reporting. The Program Manager will monitor how the countries in her/his portfolio progress to the objectives, with support from Lead Experts in their specific areas. (S)he adjusts the calendar of future activities depending on progress. The monitoring is done through post-mission reports from experts, active communication with the central banks (departments receiving assistance, and senior management of the bank), annual one-week monitoring mission (the mission can be done by a Lead Expert in some cases). The reporting is done via a semi-annual report to the BCC steering committee. Excellent writing skills are required.

Coordination with central banks. The Program Manager will be in active contact with the heads of departments receiving technical assistance, the focal points of the BCC program in the central banks (who oversee our contacts with departments), and the senior management of the central banks at the level of Governors or Vice-Governors. (S)he will maintain a contact with individual participants in the technical assistance, researchers supported under the research coaching / visiting programs, and the conference. (S)he will maintain an active contact with the SECO staff members in Bern following the countries in his/her portfolio, and the local SECO offices in the Swiss embassy (BUCO offices).

Planning of local workshops. The BCC organizes technical assistance workshops in member countries (1-2 per year). The Program Manager with develop the theme of the workshop (in coordination with the rest of the BCC team and the central bank), set up the terms-of-reference, identify participating experts, oversees that participants from central banks have the required profile, and establish a post-workshop report.

Support to the BCC director for the research support and conference activities. The Program Manager will assist the partner countries in the submission of applications of research projects, and help identify potential candidates. (S)he will support the BCC director in the selection of candidates from the countries in his/her portfolio, and ensure that they remain in regular contact with their academic supervisors during the completion of the research project.

Assistance to the Director for the preparation and organization of conferences (annual conference in Geneva, and annual workshop in a partner country).

The Program Manager will also be in charge of tasks covering all 8 countries of the program: management of BCC webpage, management of the "experts community" (newsletter to the network, section of the webpage, identification of new experts in coordination with BCC team), management of the community of recipients in central banks (update of conferences and journals to which they participate, promotion of joint papers, exchange of data sources).


Candidate's profile

Substantial experience in project management (planning, execution, monitoring), preferably in the context of government agencies, financial institutions, or research institutes. Familiarity with the logframe reporting system, and experience in the organization of training programs highly desirable.

Advanced degree (Master or higher) in economics or finance, with a good background in topics such as monetary policy, applied macroeconomics, applied finance, econometrics and/or banking.

Strong ability to operate with a broad range of stakeholders in a changing environment. Ability to handle challenges and problems in a steady-headed and professional manner, and to work out solutions to maintain progress towards the program's objectives

Excellent communication skills (especially written but also oral) and capacity to work in a team including a Geneva based core staff and external experts.

Computer literacy including use of standard statistical packages (E-Views, RATS, Matlab, STATA, etc.).

Fluency in English and French, fluency in other languages (especially Spanish) a plus.

Willing to travel in emerging countries (one week trip, 4-5 times per year).

Job summary